Why Arsenal v Tottenham is the biggest game in Europe

You don’t need any build up, fancy CGI or dramatic music to hype this monster of a game. This is as big as it gets if you’re a fan of either of the two clubs. This might as well be called FA Cup final, or the Masters of the Universe final encounter.

Fatigue, knocks, illness… they all generally go out the window for this one. Everyone loses their minds. The magic of the FA Cup? Who cares. It’s the magic of a North London Derby. It’s bragging rights. It’s ninety minutes of pure ‘lose yourself’… it’ll be magic.

The scene is set as well. Arsenal are topping the league after dominating the first half of the season. Spurs, as usual, have chopped in a manager they’ve failed to give time. Emmanuel Adebayor has, not so unbelievably shown himself up to be a odious turd of a man, feigning injury and then pulling a majestic return (off on a stretcher as well).

We also might have our share of returns to action. Olivier Giroud, if he can shake the 56th illness we’ve suffered this season. Mesut Ozil if the manager deems it a good idea to throw him in to his first NLD.

It’s going to be big. Spurs are knackered and depleted after a great run of wins under Arsenal supporting Tim Sherwood. Arsenal are knackered after maintaining a stretch of results that keeps us in the mix for, you know, winning the league.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Emmanuel Adebayor is not popular with the Arsenal fans (Picture: Reuters)

It’ll be all guns blazing from the off. I’d expect the one result neither team will shoot for is a draw. This needs to be settled today. So I’m doubtful we’ll see a tactical bore fest. The game is all about big personalities turning up and showing their value. The players will be fully aware you can cement your legend by doing something crucial in one of these games.

They’ll all know the fans will be firing on all cylinders. 9,000 Spurs fans will be in the ground today. So it’ll be electric.

I don’t want to make brash predictions. All I want is a full blooded North London Derby that can put the other major derbies in Europe in the shade. This is the best about. The most goals, the most drama, the most spirit… let’s hope it lives up to the billing.